Digital Scanner - Background Noise

[DecAnt21]

I recently purchased a digital scanner from Radio Shack and it just seems that there is just way to much background noise on my signal, the signal is completely maxed but it just seems when I listen to Digital I can't make out half of what they say unlike Analog, is this my scanner or something else. I have even been next to the transmitter and it just sounds to modulated and robotic, it almost sounds borderline encrypted but its only P25. If anyone could help me I would appreciate it greatly.

 

[bkantor]

More info needed - which model scanner, what antenna are you using, where are you using it (car, home, etc) and what area are you located in??

 

[kb2vxa]

The codec isn't properly decoding the signal, default settings aren't always one size fits all. Check the manual and follow the menu as appropriate, most of the time they're adjustable so just tweak them for the band in question until the audio is clear. You had me fooled at first, there is no such thing as background noise unless the mic is picking it up but it will not make the audio "robotic sounding".

 

[DecAnt21]

It's a Pro-197 and it's just running the out of the box antenna.

 

[Boatanchor]

Welcome to P25 audio - Great isn't it!

IMHO P25 audio only sounds half decent when the sending station is in a very quiet environment (no ambient noise). If not, the vocoder struggles with ambient noise and causes all sorts of horrible noises and artifacts. Even under perfect conditions, the IMBE vocoder makes many voices sound robotic.
It takes some getting used to but in my opinion, I would much rather listen to a narrowband analogue FM signal than P25 'robots' all day long!

P25, Phase 1 anyway, is obsolete technology that needs to go the way of Betamax!

Trouble is, there are huge sums involved in migrating all agencies over to newer, improved digital technologies and the Feds and States just don't have the money. Still, it's probably a good move to retain and even buy more Motorola shares because this company stands to reap hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars when the inevitable change does occur...

 

[cherubim]

I recently purchased a digital scanner from Radio Shack and it just seems that there is just way to much background noise on my signal, the signal is completely maxed but it just seems when I listen to Digital I can't make out half of what they say unlike Analog, is this my scanner or something else. I have even been next to the transmitter and it just sounds to modulated and robotic, it almost sounds borderline encrypted but its only P25. If anyone could help me I would appreciate it greatly.

Turn AGC off.

 

[DecAnt21]

Thanks everyone for the help, I dropped my scanner about 3 feet off of a table and I didn't think I broke it there was barely a scrathc, I noticed though that when the voices become muffled the signal strength drops low. I think i am located alittle far away. It calms me down knowing that it is supposed to sound like this. I can make them out it just sounds modulated and electronic. My local police went Digital in October.